Garry’s Mod Server Hosting

What is a Garry’s Mod server and which gamemodes can it run?

A Garry’s Mod server is an SRCDS process built on Valve’s Source engine, and the gamemode you load decides how it plays. The same server software can host free building in Sandbox, traitor hunting in Trouble in Terrorist Town (TTT), economy- and job-based roleplay in DarkRP, or hide-and-seek in Prop Hunt. Your choice of mode directly changes the resources you need, the number of add-ons and the admin workload.

• Sandbox: The default mode. Build servers rely on physics props, the Tool Gun and add-ons like Wiremod; prop limits are the key to performance.
• TTT and Prop Hunt: Round-based modes with a map rotation. Resource needs are moderate, but a large number of Workshop maps takes up disk space.
• DarkRP and its forks: The most commonly rented type of GMod server. It runs jobs, a money system, inventories and hundreds of Lua add-ons, so memory and single-core performance are decisive.

The server is a standalone application that players who own the Garry’s Mod client connect to. No game licence is needed on the server side; the files are downloaded for free through SteamCMD.

How much RAM and CPU do I need for my player count?

A small TTT or Sandbox server runs comfortably with 2–3 GB of memory, while a DarkRP server with more than 64 players needs around 8 GB and strong single-core performance. The table above summarises these ranges; the values are estimates and change with the add-ons you install.

SRCDS runs most of its game logic on a single thread. Adding more cores therefore makes less difference than higher per-core speed. Extra vCPUs are useful for running a second server on the same machine (for example one TTT and one DarkRP) or for hosting the MySQL database alongside the game.

Memory is consumed mostly by:

• A large number of Lua add-ons and the data tables they use,
• Big RP maps and the models and textures they load,
• Persistent objects on the server (saved props, doors, vehicles).

On disk, Workshop content is the main load: every map and model pack in the collection is downloaded to the server as well. NVMe storage speeds up reading these files during map changes and server start-up.

In practice the healthiest approach is to start at the lower end of the estimated range and watch real usage over the first few weeks. If memory use at the evening peak stays above eighty percent of the total, or the SRCDS process keeps one core fully saturated, it is time to move to a larger plan. When memory runs short the server first slows down, then the operating system may kill the process, which means losing unsaved player data. If you also plan to run a database, a website or a Discord bot on the same machine, add their memory share to the calculation.

Should I choose a ready-made game package or a VDS for GMod?

At LIONFIN a Garry’s Mod server is installed on a VDS; this page lists VDS plans for the game. On a VDS, cores, memory and disk are reserved for you, neighbouring workloads do not affect your game, and root access lets you configure SRCDS, MySQL and your backup scripts however you like.

Concrete benefits of a VDS:

• Unlimited editing of the Workshop collection, the addons folder and cfg files,
• Running MariaDB/MySQL for DarkRP on the same machine,
• Hosting several GMod instances on one server (on different ports),
• Optional web-based management with a game panel such as Pterodactyl.

If you would rather not manage the server yourself, open a support ticket from the customer panel after ordering the VDS and ask for the installation. For a side-by-side look at both options, see game server package or VDS. Current core and memory values are shown in the plan table on this page.

Another advantage of a VDS is scalability: as your server grows you can move to a plan with more resources and keep your existing setup instead of migrating to a fresh install. KVM virtualisation gives you near-kernel-level isolation, and you decide which libraries, time zone and system limits SRCDS gets. For communities that want their panel, website and donation system on the same server, this flexibility offers a level of control a ready-made game package cannot.

Windows or Linux? How does an SRCDS installation work?

The Garry’s Mod server officially runs on both Windows and Linux. For a server that stays online for long periods, Linux (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or Debian) uses fewer resources and needs no licence. Windows Server makes file editing over Remote Desktop easier but requires an operating system licence and more memory.

The basic installation uses SteamCMD with an anonymous login:

steamcmd +force_install_dir /home/gmod/server +login anonymous +app_update 4020 validate +quit

The server is then started with a launch line. Example for Linux:

./srcds_run -game garrysmod -console -port 27015 +maxplayers 32 +gamemode terrortown +map ttt_minecraft_b5 +host_workshop_collection COLLECTION_ID +sv_setsteamaccount GSLT_TOKEN

On 64-bit Linux distributions SRCDS may need 32-bit libraries. Servers that hit the memory ceiling with large add-on sets consider the 64-bit branch (x86-64) provided by Facepunch; on that branch you must install the 64-bit builds of any binary add-on modules (for example the database module).

How do I manage the Workshop collection and add-ons?

The recommended way to add content to a GMod server is to create a Steam Workshop collection and pass its ID with the +host_workshop_collection parameter; the server downloads and updates every item in the collection at start-up. To make players download the same content, add resource.AddWorkshop("ID") lines to a server-side Lua file.

Add-ons come in three forms:

1. Workshop items: Map, model and weapon packs. Managed through the collection and updated automatically.
2. Manually installed add-ons: Placed as folders under garrysmod/addons/; DarkRP modules and paid scripts usually arrive this way.
3. Gamemode files: Live under garrysmod/gamemodes/; DarkRP settings are changed through a separate modification add-on (darkrpmodification).

Missing textures and “ERROR” models usually come from content the player does not have. For maps that require Counter-Strike: Source content, download that content to the server and mount it via garrysmod/cfg/mount.cfg; players need the same content too.

Only install add-ons from sources you trust. “Leaked” paid add-ons frequently contain backdoors that run remote commands on the server and can lead to a full server takeover.

Which settings go into server.cfg?

A Garry’s Mod server’s persistent settings live in garrysmod/cfg/server.cfg, which is read every time the server starts. Launch-line parameters (port, map, gamemode, player count) control start-up, while server.cfg defines the server’s identity and behaviour.

hostname "LIONFIN DarkRP | EN"
sv_password ""
rcon_password "a-long-and-unique-password"
sv_region 3
sv_allowupload 0
sv_allowdownload 0
sv_loadingurl ""
sbox_maxprops 150
sbox_noclip 0

In this example sv_allowdownload 0 disables old-style direct file downloads; since content is distributed through the Workshop, they are not needed. If you want to distribute custom content that is not on the Workshop, you can set up FastDL with sv_downloadurl, which lets players fetch files from a web server; in that case you publish the files compressed in a separate web directory.

With sv_loadingurl you can point the loading screen shown while connecting to your own website. Gamemode-specific settings (DarkRP jobs, salaries, door prices and so on) live in that gamemode’s configuration files rather than in server.cfg; make a habit of taking a backup every time you change them.

How do admin permissions and RCON work?

Garry’s Mod server administration happens on two layers: the server owner at the operating-system and console level, and in-game moderators authorised through an admin add-on. Keeping that separation clear protects both security and community order.

• Server console: Connect over SSH to the SRCDS console running in a screen or tmux session and issue commands. Map changes, add-on reloads and error tracking are best done here.
• RCON: Remote console access; share it only with people you trust and change the password regularly.
• Admin add-ons: ULX/ULib, SAM or similar tools handle kicks, bans, ranks and permission groups. Build ranks in tiers such as “moderator”, “admin” and “superadmin”.
• Game panel: If several admins need file access, install a panel such as Pterodactyl and grant per-user permissions instead of handing out the SSH password.

Ban lists and rank records usually live in sv.db or the add-on’s data folder, so include them in your backup plan.

How do you promote a GMod server and attract players?

Filling a Garry’s Mod server depends as much on visibility and consistent administration as on infrastructure. The first requirements for standing out in the server browser are a valid GSLT, open ports and a descriptive server name; stating the gamemode and language in the name (for example “DarkRP | EN”) attracts the right players.

• Sensible map and collection size: If the collection is huge, new players give up during the long download. Trim unnecessary packs.
• Rules and loading screen: Clear rules and a loading screen with your Discord link keep the community together.
• Seeding: Nobody joins an empty server. In the first days, invite your community to join at set times.
• Stability: Servers that crash often or keep wiping progress lose players. Test updates on a staging server first.

A VDS with dedicated resources also lets you run a second GMod instance on the same machine as a test server, so you can try add-ons without putting the live server at risk.

How do I reduce lag on a GMod server?

The most common cause of lag in Garry’s Mod is not the hardware but the load from the physics engine and poorly written Lua add-ons. Measure the load first, then add resources.

• Prop limits: A per-player prop limit (sbox_maxprops) and frozen props in Sandbox and DarkRP cut physics work considerably. Anti-prop-kill add-ons that stop props being used as weapons protect both fairness and performance.
• Tickrate: SRCDS runs a fixed number of simulation steps per second. A higher tickrate improves responsiveness but also raises CPU load; on crowded RP servers going above the default is usually unnecessary.
• Add-on audit: Add-ons that do heavy work in every Tick or Think hook drop the server FPS. Disable suspicious add-ons one by one and test.
• Database: DarkRP uses SQLite (sv.db) by default; moving to MySQL at high player counts reduces lock-ups.

To monitor the server’s live load at the operating-system level, htop and iostat are enough. A data center in Türkiye suits players in Türkiye and the surrounding region, but no network can fix delays caused by add-ons.

How is a GMod server protected against DDoS and attacks?

Popular Garry’s Mod servers, especially among rival RP communities, are targets for UDP floods and query (A2S) storms. On LIONFIN infrastructure the RouteFence firewall performs DDoS filtering at the network level, and traffic is monitored 24/7 by our NOC and SOC teams; there are also measures you should take on the server itself.

1. Open only the ports you need: 27015/UDP for the game and 27015/TCP if you use remote administration. Close everything else with a firewall.
2. RCON password: Keep rcon_password long and unique; where possible use the server console or a panel instead of RCON.
3. File uploads: If you do not need them, disable custom player uploads with sv_allowupload 0.
4. Admin permissions: Keep the number of superadmins small in admin add-ons such as ULX/ULib or SAM.
5. SSH security: Log in with a key instead of a password and block brute-force attempts.

Read more about the facility behind this protection on our data center page.

How do I back up and migrate DarkRP data and map saves?

The data worth protecting on a Garry’s Mod server is player money, job records, inventories and admin permissions; these live either in the garrysmod/sv.db SQLite file or in an external MySQL database. In addition, the garrysmod/data/ folder holds the JSON and text files saved by add-ons, and the cfg and addons folders contain your configuration.

A safe backup routine:

• Archive sv.db, data, cfg, addons and any custom gamemodes folders daily; you do not need to back up Workshop content, it is downloaded again.
• If you use MySQL, compress the mysqldump output and copy it off the server.
• Take a full server image before a big update or add-on change.

When migrating from another provider, transfer the same folders and the database dump, then start SRCDS with the same gamemode and collection.

What are the most common Garry’s Mod server errors?

Most GMod server problems come from network configuration, missing content or a faulty Lua add-on. The most frequent ones and their fixes:

If the server will not start, check the console output first; the error message usually gives the path of the problem file. If you cannot solve it, open a support ticket from the customer panel.